Label removing apparatus



y 1, 1963 H. H. LIBBY 3,090,392

LABEL REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Hum H. LIBBY z/M wz A T TO/Z/VE YS May 21, 1963 H. H. LIBBY 3,090,392

LABEL REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Huau H. LlbBY MWZ M A TTOR/VEY y 1, 1963 H. H. LIBBY 3,090,392

LABEL REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 19, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,0%,392 LABEL REMOVING APPARATUS Hugh H. Libby, Libby Welding (30., 270i) Truman Road, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Dec. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 76,946 7 Claims. (Cl. 134125) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for delabeling bottles and the like returned to the bottling plant for washing and refilling.

In the art of removing adhesively secured labels from containers such as bottles, it has been the usual practice to subject the bottles with labels thereon to lengthy soaking periods in strong cleaning solutions such as caustic and even after such soaking it has been necessary to use brushes or other scouring means to effectively remove the labels. While conveyor systems have been used in such operations, the bottle treatment path has been long and the apparatus has been highly complex and consequently expensive. Also, the cleaning solutions and the labor involved in preparing and handling these solutions have been significant expense items. The operations and equipment have been such that in many instances it has been more desirable to vend beverage in bottles which are not accepted for return and reuse rather than remove the labels and prepare the bottles for refilling.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a novel apparatus for removing labels from hottles or the like which requires a relatively short treat ment path; to provide apparatus of this character which is very simple in construction and yet is highly effective for its intended purpose; to provide such an apparatus which produces a co a-ction urging the bottles to rotate about their vertical axes as they are continually moved along the treatment path so that the labels on the sides thereof are more fully exposed to stationary liquid streams tending to separate same from the bottles; to provide such apparatus having planar, upwardly facing, continuously moving bottle supporting surfaces and a pair of stationary guide rails vertically spaced above said surface, said guide rails being spaced apart a somewhat greater distance than the diameter of the bottles whereby succeeding bottles contact alternate rails and assume a staggered relation tending to urge rotation of the bottles as they progress through the apparatus; to provide an apparatus in which high velocity liquid streams are directed generally longitudinally of bottles being processed and against the edges of the labels toward said streams to separate the labels from the bottles by force and exposing otherwise inaccessible adhesive residue to the liquid for removal thereof; to provide an apparatus of this character which eliminates or greatly reduces the need for troublesome caustic, detergent or soap solutions which are expensive and sometimes dangerous to handle and present disposal problems; to provide such an apparame which is effective for removing paper, metallic, plastic and other types of labels; and to provide an apparatus of this character which is easily adaptable to hot or cold cleaning solutions either with or without cleaning agents therein, is easily adjustable to various bottle lengths and diameters, tends to disgorge broken bottles so as not to interrupt the automatic operation thereof, is gentle in operation so as to produce little breakage, and is inexpensive to produce and highly reliable in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved label re- 3,99%,392 Patented May 21, 1963 moving apparatus with a portion of the discharge wheel broken away to show the conveyor chain path.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus showing discharge rails urging the bottles from a staggered to a linear relation as they pass therebetween.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the discharge end portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the apparatus showing nozzles directing liquid streams onto the bottles.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view transversely through the conveyor chain showing details of the guide rail and conveyor chain supports.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan View showing the staggered positions taken by the bottles on the continuously moving bottle supporting surface.

Referring in more detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates the frame of the delabeling apparatus. The frame 1 has sprocket wheels 2 and 3 rotatably supported thereon in aligned relation. A prime mover such as an electric motor 4 is adapted to drive the sprocket wheel 3 through a reducing transmission 5 at a variable speed depending upon the time required for the effective removal of particular labels, a lower speed producing greater treatment time, as will be more apparent hereinafter. An endless con veyor chain 6 engages the sprocket wheels 2 and 3 and is adapted to be driven or moved by the sprocket wheel 3 in an endless path 7 having an upper run 8 and a lower run 9 and extending between the outer peripheries of the sprocket wheels 2 and 3. Support rollers 10 are rotatably mounted upon the frame 1. beneath the chain 6 and in contact therewith to aid in defining the path of the chain 6 during the lower run 9 and to prevent excessive sagging or looseness thereof.

The conveyor chain 6 is composed of connected links 11 having plates 12 secured thereto and facing outwardly relative to the path thereof. Elongated stationary support rails 13 and 14 preferably composed of angle irons are secured to the frame 1, for example, by welding at 15 and 16, for the purpose of supporting the plates 12 in a planar, upwardly facing, horizontal relationship during the upper run 8. The plates 12 being supported by the rails 13 and 14 form an elongated, continuously moving bottle supporting surface 17 during apparatus operation.

A pair of elongated parallel guide rails 18 and 19 preferably comprised of channel members present lateral supporting bottle contacting surfaces 20- and 21 respectively. The guide rails 18 and 19 preferably are generally in a plane that extends parallel to the plane of the bottle supporting surface 17 and respectively exhibit front portions 22 and 23 and rear portions 24 and 25. A plurality of vertically extending support rods such as 26 and 27 (FIG. 5) respectively extend through slots such as 28 in spaced transverse members 29 of the frame 1 and are secured thereto by means of suitable nuts 30 threadedly engaged to said rods on opposite sides of said frame members. The slots 28 extend transversely to the supporting surface 17 so as to provide means for horizontally adjusting the support rods with respect to said surface for lateral adjustment of the guide rails 18 and 19 relative to the path of travel of bottles being processed. Clamping brackets 31 and 32 are suitably secured to the guide rails 18 and 19 at several points, for example, by welding at 33 and 34, to provide support therefor. The brackets 31 and 32 respectively have screws 35 and 36 threadedly engaged therewith to provide a vertically adjustable clamping upon the respective support rods 26 and 27. It is thus apparent that the guide rails 18 and 19 are easily and quickly adjusted vertically and laterally to various substantially symmetrical positions about the bottle supporting surface 17.

The guide rails 18 and 19 and the supporting surface 17 define an upwardly facing path or channel 37 for containing a plurality of bottles 38 as described hereinafter. t

The bottles 38, in the example ilustr-ated, are conven tional in shape and preferably have a substantially constant diameter cylindrical lower portion 39 and an elongated upper or neck portion 419 of substantially smaller diameter than the lower portion 39. The particular configuration of the upper or neck portion is of little importance in the operation of the apparatus so long as it is of smaller diameter than the lower portion. Although a substantially cylindrical lower portion is to be desired for proper operation of the apparatus, it is noted that a slightly tapered lower portion or a substantially cylindrical lower portion having decorative annular ridges or other minor variations from a true cylinder may also be satisfactorily processed in the apparatus.

The guide rails 18 and 19 are preferably horizontally spaced from each other a distance of about one and onehalf times the diameter of the bottles 38 at their cylindrical lower portion 39, however, operational results described hereinafter can be obtained when the guide rails are horizontally spaced apart a distance substantially greater than one but less than two times the bottle diameter. The rails 18 and 19 are vertically spaced from the supporting surface 17 a distance of about one-fourth to about one-half the'total length of the bottles 38 to provide lateral support therefor. The plates 12 forming the supporting surface 17 have a width transverse to the supporting surface of about one to one and one-fourth times. the diameter of the bottles at 39 causing an under portion 41 of the bottles to overlap the outer edges 42 and 43 of the supporting surface 17.

A feeding wheel 44 having a bottle supporting surface 47 driven by suitable means (not shown) cooperates with a pair of feeding rails 45 and 46 located vertically thereabove to urge untreated bottles in the channel 37. The feeding wheel 44 is driven at a speed which causes the bottle supporting surface 47 to slip on the underside of the bottles during apparatus operation with the channel 37 full, thus imposing a constant downstream pressure upon the bottles entering between the guide rails 18 and 19 at the front portions 2.2 and 23 thereof.

When the channel 37 is becoming filled with bottles fed thereinto, succeeding bottles are automatically urged to contact respectively alternate guide rails 18 and H and each other and assume a staggered or mutually ofiset relation, FIG. 6. A pair of elongated spaced discharging rails 43 and 49' extend horizontally above the supporting surface 17 and respectively originate at the rear portions 24 and 25 of the guide rails 13 and 19. The discharge rails 48 and 49 converge or taper inwardly as they extend away from the guide rails 18 and 19 to a spacing only slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles 33 where they form a mouth 51 whereby succeeding bottles discharged from the channel 37 are urged from a staggered relation to a substantially linear relation (FIG. 2') increasing back presure on upstream bottles contained in the channel 37, The presure between the bottles in the channel and the contact with the moving supporting surface 17 and stationary guide rails 18 and 19 produce a co-action urging the bottles 38 to rotate about their vertical axes as they proceed through the apparatus toward the discharge rails 48 and 49. The forces inducing the rotation and forward displacement of the bottles 38 do not cause appreciable sliding contact on the sides of the bottles, but rather the action is primarily a gentle rolling contact against the guide rails 18 and 19 and between succeeding bottles. The absence of appreciable sliding contact on the sides of the bottles greatly reduces the possibility of damaging scratches which reduce bottle life. It is here noted that if soft or easily damaged glass bottles are to the delabeled in the apparatus, it may be desirable to coat the bottle contacing surfaces 20 and 21 of the guide rails 18 and 19 with strips 51 and 52 of a resilient material such as rubber, Teflon, nylon or the like.

Any suitable means may be used to remove the treated bottles from the apparatus; however, in the example shown, the removal device comprises a horizontal discharge wheel 53 rotatably driven by means (not shown) beneath a pair of discharge guide rails 54 and 55 in the manner of the feeding Wheel 44 discussed above. However, the speed of the wheel 53 is generally maintained at a higher rate than the wheel 44 to prevent interference with the free operation of the discharge rails 43 and 49. The bottles pass from the apparatus to conventional washing and sterilization means in preparation for refilling.

An elongated liquid feed pipe 56 is secured by suitable brackets 57 to the frame 1 in vertically spaced relation from the guide rails 18 and 19. The feed pipe 56 extends substantially parallel to and spaced above the bottle supporting surface 17 and has secured and rotatable relative thereto at several points one end of a plurality of liquid discharge tubes 53. The discharge tubes 58 are placed along the feed pipe 56 in generally regularly spaced relation over the bottle supporting surface 17 and each tube 58 terminates at the unsecured end thereof in a nozzle 59 adapted to direct a liquid stream generally longitudinally of but angularly against the bottles 38, FIG. 4. The nozzles 59 are preferably mounted on elbows 60 or otherwise arranged substantially at angular relation to the tubes and rotatable relative thereto for facilitating directing the streams in desired directions against said bottles. The nozzles 59 are preferably of the quick disconnect and reversible type whereby they can be easily removed and reversed for cleaning in case of clogging. A shut-off valve 61 is operatively connected into each of the discharge tubes 53 for the purpose of interrupting the liquid fiow therethrough during nozzle reversing or cleaning' Thus, the apparatus may be operated continually while individual nozzles 59 are out of operation.

The nozzles 59 in the example illustrated, are adjusted and aimed to direct the fluid stream at high velocity obliquely against the upper edge 62 of the labels 6?: in order to induce a separation from the bottles. It is noted, however, that the label separation may also be obtained by directing a stream upwardly against the lower edge 64 of the labels 63. The labels are thus removed without reliance upon a prior soaking step for softening or dissolving the adhesive between the label and the bottle. The label is, in some instances, torn off whereby the adhesive and paper fibers retained on the bottle surface are exposed to the liquid stream for rapid softening and removal thereby. Without this tearing action, a long soaking period would often be necessary to remove the label since many labels are composed of metallic coverings, plastic film, or other vapor barriers which prevent the soaking liquid from rapidly reaching and softening the adhesive.

A centrifugal pump 65 driven by a suitable prime mover such as an electric motor 66 is operatively connected to the feed pipe 56 for the purpose of propelling liquid thereinto under pressure, providing a liquid supply for the tubes 58.

Side walls 67 and 68 and a bottom wall 69 are secured ot the lower portion of the frame 1 and form an elongated trough 70 extending beneath the supporting surface 17 for capturing expended liquid from the bottles and apparatus. The trough 70 has an end wall 71 closing one end thereof and a tank 72 located at the other end thereof for receiving the liquid therefrom, the trough 7% being sloped downwardly towards the tank 72 to induce liquid draining thereinto. A drain pipe 73 is operatively connected between the tank 72 and the intake 74 of the pump 65, providing a liquid saving recirculating system for the delabeling apparatus.

A rotating screen 75 driven by suitable means (not shown) separates the labels and large particles of foreign matter from the liquid draining into the tank 72. The screen 75 carries the labels and large particle foreign matter to a blade 76 in sliding and scraping contact therewith and which removes the labels and foreign matter therefrom for deposition into a suitable receptacle (not shown) for disposal. It is not necessary to remove all particles or small pieces from the solution since they pass freely through the pump and nozzles and tend to aid the tearing of the labels with an abrasive action.

Splash guards 77 are secured to the frame 1 and extend vertically and longitudinally of the apparatus on each side of the bottle supporting surface 17 to prevent the loss of liquid by splashing and spraying onto the surrounding area.

It has been noted above that the guide rails 18 and 19 may be easily adjusted in position with respect to the supporting surface 17. This permits the apparatus to be easily adapted to accept bottles of various diameters. Although it is preferable for the plates 12 forming the supporting surface 17 to be a width less than the distance between the guide rails 18 and 19, this is not a necessity for proper apparatus operation since the co action between the bottles and the guide rails 18 and 19 coupled with any suitable means for freely urging the bottles therealong will induce bottle rotation with the desired forward displacement thereof.

It has been found that this apparatus will usually remove labels with unadulterated tap Water, eliminating the need for heated water or heated or cold caustic, detergent or soap solutions which are expensive, sometimes dangerous to handle, and often present a disposal problem. However, if desired or indicated, such solutions, either heated or cold, can be used in conjunction with this apparatus to more effectively remove labels from bottles and the like.

If corrosive cleaning substances are to be used, the various machine parts exposed thereto should be constructed of stainless steel or protected with a suitable coating material to prevent excess corrosion. If the bottles to be cleaned are for food purposes, construction with stainless or suitable sanitary materials is desired regardless of the particular cleaning fluids.

Since large open spaces generally exist between the guide rails 18 and 19 and the supporting surface 17, if a bottle fractures during its journey through the apparatus, it tends to be discarded automatically through these spaces and into the trough 70 without an interruption of continuous operation. If desired, suit-able pressure switches may be used in conjunction with the guide rails 18 and 19 to turn off the apparatus in case an oversized or undersized bottle produces an excess jamming pressure therebetween which is likely to cause damage.

Fluid pressures of up to 1200 pounds per square inch and speeds up to more than one thousand bottles per minute have been found feasible with this apparatus. If very high pressure liquid streams are used, it is desirable to balance the streams so that they strike individual bottles on opposite sides at the same instant, thereby minimizing the tendency to disturb their relation with each other or the guide rails 18 and 19. K

It is noted that this apparatus is of a simple construction and has a short treating path when compared to known label removing apparatus such as those using brushes, extended soaking periods or complex conveyor systems.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously rotating and progress- 6 ing a plurality of substantially equal diameter cylindrical bodies comprising, a frame, conveyor means operatively supported by said frame, means for moving said conveyor, said conveyor forming a moving body supporting surface, a pair of elongated guide rails, means supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of said body supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface defining a path, said guide rails being laterally spaced from each other a distance substantially greater than one but less than two times the diameter of the bodies and vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance sufficient to provide lateral support to the bodies, means for feeding the bodies in upright relation into said path for filling said path, said guide rails and conveyor means having a discharge end, means for receiving said bodies at said discharge end and carrying them away at a rate faster than the movement of the bodies by said conveyor rneans along said path, and means at said discharge end of said guide rails retarding movement of the bodies therefrom whereby the conveyor means moves the bodies to maintain forward pressure on the trailing bodies and force the bodies forwardly thereof laterally against the guide rails with succeeding bodies in contact with alternate guide rails and each other on the cylindrical surfaces thereof in a staggered relation, said moving supporting surface, retarded movement and lateral pressure of the bodies against the guide rails producing a coaaction urging the bodies to rotate about their vertical axes -as they proceed toward said discharge end.

2. Apparatus for simultaneously rotating and progressing a plurality of substantially equal diameter cylindrical bodies comprising, a frame having rotating members supported thereon, an endless conveyor engaging said members, means for moving said conveyor in an endless path, said conveyor forming an elongated continuously IIlOVlIlg body supporting surface, a pair of elongated guide rails, support members secured to said frame for supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of said body supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface defining a path, said guide rails being lateraliy spaced from each other a distance substantially greater than one but less than two times the diameter of the bodies and vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance sufiicient to provide lateral support to the bodies, means for feeding the cylindrical bodies in upright relation into said path for filling said path, said guide rails and conveyor having a discharge end, means for receiving said bodies at said discharge end and carrying them away at a rate faster thtn the movement of the bodies by said conveyor, and means at said discharge end of said guide rails retarding movement of the bodies therefrom whereby the conveyor moves the bodies to maintain forward pressure on trailing bodies and force the bodies forwardly thereof laterally against the guide rails with succeeding bodies in contact with alternate guide rails and each other on the cylindrical surfaces thereof in a staggered relation, said moving supporting surface, retarded movement and lateral pressure of the bodies against the guide rails producing a co-action urging the bodies to rotate about their vertical axes as they proceed toward said dischar e end.

3. Apparatus for simultaneously rotating and progressing a plurality of cylindrical bodies of substantially equal diameter comprising, a frame having rotating members supported thereon, an endless conveyor engaging said members, means for moving said conveyor continuously at a selected speed in an endless path, said conveyor forming an elongated continuously moving body supporting surface, a pair of elongated substantially parallel guide rails, support members secured to said frame for supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of said supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface defining a path, said guide rails being laterally spaced from each other a distance about one and one-half times the diameter of the bodies and i vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance sufficient to provide lateral support to the bodies, means for feeding said bodies in upright relation into said path for filling said path, said guide rails and conveyor having a discharge end, means for receiving said bodies at said discharge end and carrying them away at a rate faster than the movement of the bodies by said conveyor, and means at said discharge end of said guide rails retarding movement of the bodies therefrom whereby the conveyor moves the bodies to maintain forward pressure on trailing bodies and force the bodies forwardly thereof laterally against the guide rails with succeeding bodies in contact with alternate guide rails and each other on the cylindrical surfaces thereof in a staggered relation, said moving supporting surface, retarded movement and lateral pressure of the bodies against the guide rails producing a co-action urging the bodies to rotate about their vertical axes as they proceed toward said discharge end.

4. In a delabeling apparatus for cylindrical bottles, a frame having rotating members supported thereon, an end-less conveyor engaging said members, means for moving said conveyor continuously at a selected speed in an endless path, said conveyor forming an elongated continuously moving bottle supporting surface, a pair of elongated parallel guide rails, means for supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of said bottle supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface forming a channel, said guide rails being laterally spaced from each other a distance of about one and one-half times the diameter of the bottles and vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance suflicient to provide lateral support to the bottles, means for feeding upright bottles into said channel for filling said channel, said guide rails and conveyor having a discharge end, means for receiving said bottles at said discharge end and carrying them away at a rate faster than the movement of the bottles against said conveyor, and means at said discharge end of said guide rails retarding movement of the bottles therefrom whereby the conveyor moves the bottles to maintain forward pressure on trailing bottles and force the bottles forwardly thereof laterally against the guide rails with succeeding bottles in contact with alternate guide rails and each other in a staggered relation, said moving supporting surface, retarded movement and lateral pressure of the bottles against the guide rails producing a co-action urging the bottles to rotate about their vertical axes as they proceed toward said discharge end, and means for delabeling said bottles while in said channel.

.5. In a delabeling apparatus for cylindrical bottles, a frame having rotating members supported thereon, an endless conveyor engaging said members, means for moving said conveyor continuously at a selected speed in an endless path, said conveyor forming an elongated continuously moving bottle supporting surface, a pair of elongated parallel guide rails, means for supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of 7 said bottle supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface forming a channel, said guide rails being laterally spaced from each other a distance of about one and one-half times the diameter of the bottles and vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance sufficient to providellateral support to the bottles, means for feeding upright bottles into said channel for filling said channel whereby succeeding bottles contact alternate guide rails and each other and assume a staggered relation, means for discharging bottles from said channel, whereby said moving supporting surface and guide rails produce a co-action urging the bottles to rotate about their vertical axes as they proceed toward said discharge means, and means for delabeling said bottles while in said channel consisting of an elongated liquid feed pipe secured to said frame in vertically spaced relation to said guide rails, a plurality of liquid discharge tubes each operatively secured at one end thereof to said pipe, said discharge tubes being spaced along said pipe generally over the area of said supponting surface and each tube terminating at the other end thereof in a nozzle for directing a liquid stream generally longitudinally of but angularly against the bottles, a centrifugal pump operatively connected to said feed pipe for propelling liquid thereinto under pressure, side walls and a bottom wall secured to said frame and forming an elongated trough extending beneath said supporting surface, said trough having an end wall closing one end thereof and a tank at the other end thereof for receiving liquid therefrom, a drain pipe operatively connected between said tank and the intake of said pump for providing liquid thereto and a screen between said trough and said pump for trapping labels and foreign matter removed from said bottles by said liquid streams.

6. in a delabeling apparatus for cylindrical bottles, a frame having rotating members supported thereon, an endless conveyor engaging said members, means for moving said conveyor continuously at a selected speed in an endless path, said conveyor forming an elongated continuously moving bottle supporting surface, a pair of elongated parallel guide rails, means for supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of said bottle supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface forming a channel, said guide rails being laterally spaced from each other a distance of about one and onehalf times the diameter of the bottles and vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance sufficient to provide lateral support to the bottles, means for feeding upright bottles into said channel for filling said channel whereby succeeding bottles contact alternate guide rails and each other and assume a staggered relation, discharge means for discharging bottles from said channel including a pair of elongated spaced discharge rails horizontally extending above said supporting surface, said discharge rails respectively originating at the termination of said guide rails and tapering inwardly to a spacing slightly greater than the diameter of the bottles whereby said moving supporting surface and guide rails produce a co-action urging the bottles to rotate about their vertical axes as they proceed toward said discharge means, and means for delabeling said bottles while in said channel.

7. In a delabeling apparatus for cylindrical bottles, a frame having sprocket wheels rotatably supported thereon, means for driving at least one of said wheels continuously at a selected speed, an endless conveyor chain engaging said sprocket wheels and adapted to be moved thereby in an endless path, said chain being composed of connected links having plates secured thereto, elongated stationary angle iron rails secured to said frame for supporting said plates in a planar upwardly facing horizontal relationship over a portion of said path, said plates forming an elongated continuously moving bottle supporting surface, a pair of narrow elongated parallel channel guide rails each having a front portion and a rear portion, a plurality of support members secured to said frame for adjustably supporting said guide rails in laterally spaced relation and vertically of said bottle supporting surface, said guide rails and supporting surface forming a channel, said guide rails being laterally spaced from each other a distance of about one and one-half times the diameter of the bottles and vertically spaced from said supporting surface a distance of about one-fourth to one-half the length of the bottles, said plates having a width transverse to said bottle supporting surface of about one to one and one-fourth times the diameter of the bottles, a feeding wheel at said guide rail front portion for feeding upright bottles into said channel for filling said channel whereby succeeding bottles contact alternate guide rails and each other and assume a staggered or mutually offset relation, a pair of elongated spaced discharge rails horizontally extending above said supporting surface, said discharge rails respectfully originating at the rear portion of said guide rails and tapering inwardly to a spacing slightly greater 10 than the diameter of the bottles whereby succeeding bot- References Cited in the file of this patent tles discharged from said channel are urged from a stag- UNITED STATES PATENTS gered relation to a substantially linear relation increasing 1 055 843 Warren Mar 11 1913 back pressure on upstream bottles, said discharge rails 1:206:120 Mccue 1916 and feeding wheel and supporting surface and guide rails 5 1 23 950 Bem-heim Oct 1918 producing a co-action urging the battles to rotate about 1,712,751 C i h May 14, 1 29 their vertical axes as they proceed toward said discharge 2,178,701 Petre Nov. 7, 1939 rails, and means for directing high pressure liquid streams 5, Hartmann July 18, 1950 against the bottles while in said channel for removing 10 2,516,998 Kimball 1950 labels therefrom. L 97 Thlllke Apr. 14, 1959 r 2,935,174 Wynn May 3, 1960 

1. APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY ROTATING AND PROGRESSING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DIAMETER CYLINDRICAL BODIES COMPRISING, A FRAME, CONVERYOR MEANS OPERATIVELY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONVEYOR, SAID CONVEYOR FORMING A MOVING BODY SUPPORTING SURFACE, A PAIR OF ELONGATED GUIDE RAILS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID GUIDE RAILS IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION AND VERTICALLY OF SAID BODY SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID GUIDE RAILS AND SUPPORTING SURFACE DEFINING A PATH, SAID GUIDE RAILS BEING LATERALLY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN ONE BUT LESS THAN TWO TIMES THE DIAMETER OF THE BODIES AND VERTICALLY SPACED FROM SAID SUPPORTING SUFACE A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE LATERAL SUPPORT TO THE BODIES, MEANS FOR FEEDING THE BODIES IN UPRIGHT RELATION INTO SAID PATH FOR FILLING SAID PATH, SAID GUIDE RAILS AND CONVEYOR MEANS HAVING A DISCHARGE END, MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID BODIES AT SAID DISCHARGE END AND CARRYING THEM AWAY AT A RATE FASTER THAN THE MOVEMENT OF THE BODIES BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS ALONG SAID PATH, AND MEANS AT SAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID GUIDE RAILS RETARDING MOVEMENT OF THE BODIES THEREFROM WHEREBY THE CONVEYOR MEANS MOVES THE BODIES TO MAINTAIN FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE TRAILING BODIES TO MAINTAIN FORWARD PRESSURE ON LATERALLY AGAINST THE GUIDE RAILS AND EACH OTHER ON THE CONTACT WITH ALTERNATE GUIDE RAILS AND EACH OTHER ON THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACES THEREOF IN A STAGGERED RELATION, SAID MOVING SUPPORTING SURFACE, RETARDED MOVEMENT AND LATERAL PRESSURE OF THE BODIES AGAINST THE GUIDE RAILS PRODUCING A CO-ACTION URGING THE BODIES TO ROTATE ABOUT THEIR VERTICAL AXES AS THEY PROCEED TOWARD SAID DISCHARGE END. 